Birth Story Of The Week – Dave and Emi

Posted on June 17, 2013 by midwifeyhooper

How was everyone’s weekend? Did all the Fathers and Fathers to-be get spoilt rotten with hand made cards and a lie in? My poor husband had to wake up next to his very hung over wife in a hotel in Berkshire after seeing our best friends get married the day before. He did however get treated to a bottle of coke and some Scampi snacks from the motorway on the way home. The kids were pleased to see him and made lovely cards thanks to a very lovely (albeit exhausted) Auntie. He also got to catch up on the Lions game so all in all an ok Fathers Day here.

In the light of celebrating ‘Father’s Day’ this weekend I thought it was only appropriate to hear a birth story from a man. After all it is a life changing event for both parties. This hilarious and witty yet beautifully written story comes from Dave, husband of Susie father to Emi.

Blog: About a Gadabout

Twitter: aboutagadabout

We knew exactly how our baby was going to be born. It would take place at our local Birth Centre, accompanied by relaxing music in a softly lit room containing a pool. Susie’s pain would be conquered by measured breathing and the generous application of my sensitive yet masculine touch.

Turns out we were wrong.

Come with me now to room three on the antenatal ward of Lewisham hospital. It’s early afternoon yet almost completely dark outside. Susie is sitting upright in bed, her worried face drained of all colour. She is surrounded by beige medical apparatus gleaming dully under fluorescent light. The due date came and went over two weeks ago and inductions have produced no result. A scan has just revealed a lack of amniotic fluid around the baby. It’s the 23rd of October, the clock is ticking and it’s tense.

A midwife enters briskly to examine Susie and tells us there has been no change: she is still only 1cm dilated. To put that in perspective I am at a constant state of 0.5cm dilation due to a hormone imbalance. If nothing happens soon we will have to discuss other options.

Early evening sneaks in unnoticed and I ask Susie if she would like something to eat. She replies “I’m not actually that huoooowwwwwaaaarrrAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHOOOOOHHHH!!!”. She is either having a contraction or unexpectedly giving her rendition of 80′s pop classic, ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’. I decide that if I do ever write a blog about today this is the point at which I’ll stop writing in the present tense. I also went and and fetched a midwife.

Susie spent the next five hours doubled over in pain, locked in a private agony. If she had been a boxer the referee would have stopped the fight and the crowd would quite rightly have demanded a refund. As I massaged her back for the 476th time (my hands were a bit sore but I don’t like to mention it) she looked at me after a particularly prolonged groan and whispered “epidural”. Having spent the last three nights in hospital with very little sleep, she was worried about lack of energy when it came to the birth. As a midwife was due to examine her in 15 minutes I suggested she could try eating a banana to get her through until that point. We would then know how close she was and take things from there. Susie weighed up my suggestion while fixing me with a stare of primal ferocity. Her teeth formed a solid, unbroken block of enamel through which she hissed those three little words “Ep! Ee! Dural!” I sensed potassium rich fruit just wasn’t going to cut it on this occasion and rushed off to fetch an anaesthetist. The epidural process took about an hour to set up and seemed to provide relief straight away. A banana would have been quicker which is all I intend to say on the subject.

A trainee midwife set about the examination rather uncertainly and hesitantly diagnosed Susie had progressed to 7cm dilated. My spirits rose: this was much better than I could have hoped. The senior midwife repeated the examination and confidently announced the trainee midwife was wrong. My spirits sank: I knew it was too good to be true. She then added that actually Susie was fully 10cm dilated and the baby was on the way. My spirits gave me a ‘make your mind up’ look before soaring to the ceiling.

Frustratingly I didn’t have my camera with me as I hadn’t been home for quite some time. You are probably thinking ‘Dave / David / Gadabout author, why not just use the camera on your phone?” The fact is my phone doesn’t have a camera and I’m afraid that is something we are all going to have to come to terms with and move on.

I calculated I could get to our flat and back in 20 minutes by taxi to collect the camera. The midwife assured us that nothing would happen for at least an hour as the effect of the epidural had to wear off first. The buzzy high offered by a banana wears off almost instantly which is all I intend to say on the subject.

We decided there was no risk of me missing the birth and it was important to have a record of the moment so I rushed off and jumped in the nearest cab. I explained the situation to the driver who sported the kind of moustache worn by a man who has always had – and will always have – a moustache. He sped off with real urgency which was encouraging although a major downside was the unavoidable fact we were going in the wrong direction. Despite my protests he insisted this was the quickest route and pressed on. It eventually turned out it was indeed the quickest route but regrettably to an address other than my own. It seemed he had misheard me. Performing a U-turn that would make the Dukes of Hazzard car sick, we roared back in the direction we had come. He promised to make up the time with a ‘shortcut’ and went blazing down the backstreets. We didn’t get very far before stopping short at an aggressively stationery line of traffic.

“That’s right, the road ahead is closed. I was here earlier, I should have remembered that. The problem is I haven’t slept in over 24 hours”, explained the driver calmly.

As I thought about my anxious wife alone in hospital about to give birth while I sat trapped in a car with a stranger clearly unfit to drive, I felt a warm glow of contentment wash over me like a million silken caresses. I felt a strong urge to express this emotion by attacking and killing the driver. I restrained myself as I still needed him to transport me and because I am a physical coward.

I told him to reverse and follow my directions. We finally arrived outside my flat and I jumped out saying I would be no more than 30 seconds. 30 seconds later I was back with the camera to find him leaning against the car lighting a cigarette. I interrupted this disturbingly post-coital scene by getting in and slamming the door shut. He took a long puff, giving me a sideways ‘hello Mr Selfish’ look before begrudgingly easing his frame back behind the wheel.

After setting off in strained silence he apologised for the earlier mishaps and offered not to charge me for additional driving time and waiting period at my flat. It was all I could do to stop myself kissing him directly on the mouth in gratitude.

Eventually we screeched to a halt outside the hospital. I noticed the cab didn’t have a meter so thrust a handful of notes at him and graciously told him to keep the change. He graciously told me I was £2 short. There followed a brief and frank exchange of views during which I’m delighted to say he agreed to act as Godfather to my first born child.

I sprinted through the hospital swing doors, went bounding up the stairs to the fifth floor and burst into room three gasping for breath. Susie was stretched out on the bed in exactly the same position as I had left her. Bit lazy.

The midwives made their preparations while I stood next to Susie and gripped her hand. She looked focused, determined and much calmer than I felt. This was it. Baby stations. All hands to the bump. I knew what my role was in this situation and threw myself into it. “You’re doing really well wow that’s amazing fantastic not long now almost there you’re doing brilliantly keep going EXCELLENT WELL DONE THAT WAS BRILLIANT PUSH PUSH PUSHPUSHPUSHPUSHPUSHPUSH!!”. I suddenly realised we were only 30 seconds in and I had started way too big with the encouragement leaving nowhere to go when things really started moving. I considered taking it down a notch by throwing in the odd “yeah not bad, seen better” but fortunately there was no need as with a sudden rush at 11.32pm we were joined on planet earth, Lewisham Hospital, room three by our little baby daughter,Emi.

From what I had been told and read, I’d expected our newborn to look like a little blue alien creature when she first arrived. Instead here was this pink, beautiful baby with ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes each evenly segregated into four clumps attached to their relevant limb-ends. For me, the moment my protective Dad instincts kicked in was four seconds after she was born when she looked at me with an expression that said “well I did not expect this when I awoke. Please explain what is happening”. The thing is I was in no position to explain anything to anyone at that moment.

I cut the cord and she was given to Susie to hold for the first time. Whatever further gadding about awaits the three of us, looking at Susie and Emi together was the most monumentally happy event in my life so far. Susie was pale, exhausted and bathed in a feminine glow (sweaty). She cradled our baby, looked up at me and laughed “I think I’m ready for that banana now”. I laughed too but unfortunately it seemed an unknown person had selfishly eaten all the bananas during the course of the evening. Despite subsequent wild accusations there is no way of proving who that individual may or may not have been and that is all I intend to say on the subject.

Daddies Rule!

Posted on June 16, 2013 by midwifeyhooper

Happy Father’s Day to all you wonderful Dads and Dads-to-be out there! You are all amazing even though we don’t tell you enough and moan when the kids are dressed in the most hideous collection of clothes you’ve ever seen, often clothes you didn’t know they owned! Or when it’s their turn to cook them tea and it’s either fish fingers or chicken nuggets (ie anything from the freezer than requires minimal preparation) what is that about?!

But really, despite all of that you are fabulous and my girls are SO lucky to have such a wonderful Daddy in their lives. Our little family couldn’t work without you. Today is bitter sweet for me as my own father (we called him Papa) died 2 years ago. Oddly though we didn’t celebrate Fathers Day in our family but we will never forget how wonderful he was to myself and my brother and sister.

I thought today I would re share a previous post my husband wrote in the blog for Dads-to-be, in his own words. Here is his Top Tips fo Dads-to-be.

Before the birth - The woman you’re with is growing a baby for you inside of her – that’s pretty bloody amazing. Just take a second to think about that. She’s the one that carrying the extra weight, suffering from mood swings (although you’ll see the blunt end of those), feeling dreadful and generally having a bit of rough time so just make life a bit easier for her. She’ll moan at you and nothing you’ll do will be to the standard she wants (as if it ever is) but just make that bit more effort than you normally would around the house and maybe rein in those drinks on Saturday nights with the boys – she’s not going to be out on the smash is she, so be sympathetic.

Be interested in what she’s been reading about – invariably your other half will have been looking up stuff on the internet (hopefully from this blog) and want to share it with you. Don’t just pay this lip service as this is obviously important to her / scaring her stiff. The more you understand at this point the less likely to are to get completely freaked when all the blood and guts stuff starts happening. Things to learn include all the birth options, the birth plan if you have one and which drugs do what – (get a go on the gas and air if you can – awesome fun!)

During the birth - Realise from the outset that you’re probably going to be in the way and whatever you do will probably irritate her. I remember pouring warm water over my wife’s back while she was in the pool, I then cracked a joke about it being like pouring gravy over a big fat turkey -the phrase ‘like a lead balloon’ doesn’t do it justice.

Be brave – if your partner wants you to get involved and have a look at what’s going on, then grow a pair and have a gander – that’s your child coming into the world. At least you’ll be able to then look at your child when you’re older and say “I was involved and encouraged your mother to be active in birth” rather than “I got a cup of tea and a floppy cheese sandwich and when I came back you were there!”

After the birth - not that you wouldn’t anyway, but kiss your partner and thank them for what they’ve just done for you. You will probably never do anything on the same scale for them so make them feel like a million dollars.

Get the house ready – clean it, and that means actually get out those cleaning products (even though the likelihood is you don’t know which one is for which job) and make that house sparkle – all helps with the nesting process and making you partner and new addition feel at ease. (My wife has just told me to include flowers on here so do it)

Push present – Now this one is an area of debate for me. The debate isn’t on whether you should get your partner a present or not – you really should. The debate on how much to spend. I know some dads that have spent a grand on a new handbag and some that have just got a pair of cashmere socks. Whatever it is, put some thought into. Flowers from the garage just won’t cut it.

Get ready for the shock – your life is going to change irreversibly so don’t fight it. Nights out with the boys on Brick Lane will become limited and you’ll be tired all the time. But the upsides massively outweigh the downs – of course, I won’t bore you by going through those. I’ll leave you to discover them for yourself – that’s what being a Dad is all about.

It’s Only Poo But We Like It!

Posted on June 14, 2013 by midwifeyhooper

My girls are a bit obsessed with poo. The 2 year old is going through the poo poo face, poo poo head and poo poo bum phase. In the supermarket she screams it out usually around the cereal aisle which is lucky for me as it’s opposite the wine aisle. When bumping into the elderly lady who lives across the street she whispers it just loudly enough so even the hearing aid wearing old lady can hear it. And the almost six year old (‘In 2 weeks mummy!’) had learnt to write it, everywhere. It’s like the ultimate insult for her, which is lucky for us as she could have learnt to write a real swear word. Imagine the humiliation.

Thank God it’s not the F word!

So instead of ignoring the P word in this house, we embrace it! After all it is a totally normal bodily function, and with only one toilet between a family of 4, well we have to kind of get to know each others daily visits whether we like it or not. Father Christmas even put the hilarious ‘Poo Bum’ book in the 2 year old’s stocking last year. He knows us oh too well.

However embracing poo isn’t something women really want to do during labour. I think it’s one of the most commonly asked questions us midwives hear ‘Will I poo when I’m giving birth?’ In fact 80-90% women do a poo at some point during labour. And do you know what, us midwives get a little excited when we see a poo. Seriously, we do because it often means the baby is getting closer to being born and that is really exciting! But we don’t scream and shout ‘look she’s done a poo, look everyone!’ We quietly and subtly clear it away without anyone (partners included) noticing. I have conducted a list, to dispel all myths about all things poo related.

Midwives don’t really mind poo, like I said before it often means the baby coming so we get super excited and slowly start to put our gloves on.
Life goes on after pooing in front of your partner. You’ve already been naked, had sex, probably vomited, passed wind etc in front of them so a poo is really no biggie. Plus if your man really loves you, this will not phase him, you’re only human.
As the baby pushes down in your pelvis, it pushes on all the nerves and muscles in your bottom. So if there’s some poo in there then of course it’s going to come out. Giving birth really does feel like going for the biggest poo of your life.
If you can, go for a poo in early labour. Women often have diarrhoea at the on set of labour which is the body’s way of having a clear out.
Don’t worry too much about what you have or haven’t eaten. Depriving yourself of food during early labour because you’re worried about pooing is a bad idea. A runner does not prepare for a marathon by starving themselves and you shouldn’t prepare for birth by starving yourself either. Both you and your baby need energy to have the endurance for birth.
‘Bearing down’ and push like you need a poo’ are just some phrases you may hear us midwives say during birth. So focus on this, get into a position as if you are going to open your bowels such as a deep squat, on all fours or on a birthing stool. I have never ever done a poo lying down or with my legs in stirrups so think about this if your midwife or doctor asks you to get on the bed to deliver the baby.

Just for the record, I pooed during the pushing stage of my first daughter’s birth. It wasn’t much, my husband didn’t seem to care and I certainly didn’t give a monekys. After all I was totally starkers and had already peed and vomited. He says he still fancies me and I believe him.

Birth Story of The Week – Katie and Chubs

Posted on June 10, 2013 by midwifeyhooper

How is it Monday already? And where has the sun gone? Well here is another lovely birth story from a very special friend to brighten up your day. Katie and I met on the first day at uni when we were training to be midwives 10 years ago. Wow that seems really weird. Little old me from London venturing out on this new life in Bristol to become a midwife. I remember seeing Katie and admiring her tan (she had just been travelling in Australia) and we became friends from that day on, living together in our final year. Katie has recently become a Mummy to little Chubs and here is her story.

Blog: Chubs and Love

Twitter: midwifebrown

I think it’s been long enough now that my memory has faded enough to give me the rose-tinted glasses when I look back on it all. In fact, I’m thinking about the next one – it wasn’t that bad, I’ll have a home birth next time!!I was convinced I was going to be early with Chubs, all my friends who had had babies recently had delivered at 38/39 weeks so I definitely would too, of course! But, 38 weeks then 39 weeks passed me by and I reached my due date with no signs. Nothing at all.

Due date bump

I spent the day making curtains for the nursery with my mum to occupy myself and prepared myself for my ‘new’ due date of T+12 when I’d be induced.Nine days later, on a Sunday evening, the day before my boyfriend was supposed to start his new job, I started feeling a bit uncomfortable. I warned him he might not be going and concentrated on cooking a roast dinner. (I had already polyfiller’d holes in the dining room and done a big supermarket shop that day!) About 9pm I took some paracetamol and sent Boyfriend to bed to get some rest as I had a feeling it was going to be a long night. I had a bath and started using my Natal Hypnotherapy breathing techniques but it was too much.

At 1am we went on in to the hospital. I was slightly disappointed to find I was 3cm, I should be more, surely?! Although bearing in mind I had been unable to have a sweep 3 days before, it wasn’t so bad.I was left in the quiet, dark room for a couple of hours before getting in the pool. Ohhh the lovely, lovely pool. It was so warm and quiet and just wonderful. I relaxed a little too much though and my contractions died off. By this time it was 6am and I was so tired. My hypnotherapy breathing just wasn’t cutting it any more and the gas and air just made me feel weird. I decided to have an epidural to allow me to get some sleep.

As the contractions had sodded off and I’d only managed to get myself to 5cm I was also put on the hormone drip syntocinon to give my body a bit of a kick up the arse. I spent the day dozing, eating toast and chatting with Boyfriend and various colleagues who popped in to say hello. My epidural was awesome, I couldn’t feel any of the pain, but could move my legs about easily.

By the afternoon I was feeling really strong pressure and felt I needed to push. I might have been a bit crap at labour, but pushing I loved! I was determined to give it some welly. I remember saying to my midwife ‘they lie to you at uni, babies come out of your bum, I know they do, I can feel it!’ It was hard work, but felt good to be productive and doing something finally.38 minutes later, at 16.08 my beautiful, perfect, squashed little Chubs arrived and my life began.

We Made It!

Posted on June 8, 2013 by midwifeyhooper

I am super excited to tell you all that my birth story made it into Mother and Baby magazine this month! My first piece of real journalism! I feel like Carrie Bradshaw minus the amazing shoes, apartment and life style. A journalist asked me if I would share it as they were doing a on piece called ‘Do The Experts Have Easy Births?’ And Gas and Air got a mention too so hopefully any Mum’s or Mum’s to- be reading their latest copy of Mother and Baby will get to find out about the blog. High fives all round! I wish I could crack open the bubbles but I’m call so best stick to a Peppermint tea.

You may have also noticed my mug in high res over to the right. My husband is becoming a dab hand with his SLR and I needed some more professional snaps of me not just the old Instagram filter with sunnies on so you can’t see my eye bags type shot. Anyway that’s me with no filter so hope it’s not too much for you all. Exciting times for Gas and Air as my brilliant web designer (how awesome does THAT sound?) has been coming up with some amazing new designs for the website. Gas and Air will have a whole new fresh and inviting feel to it, with easy to navigate side bars, beautiful new colour scheme and graphics and not to mention all those Monday Birth Stories .

By the way if you would like your birth story featured on the blog please email it over with a photo to gasandairblog@gmail.com. Have a great weekend folks!

Pregnancy Madness!

Posted on June 5, 2013 by midwifeyhooper

And I don’t mean forgetting where you left your keys, purse, mobile phone (check the fridge it’s always in there). I mean the latest report from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, claiming there is not enough information about potential risks to unborn children from chemicals found in many household products including moisturisers and shower gel.

Tricky one, as any pregnant woman wouldn’t want to put her unborn baby at risk but I think we need to look at this information carefully and not OVER REACT! So the chemicals they are talking about are found in the following

food packaging (cans, plastics containers)
house hold products
paints and pesticides
personal care produces (moisturisers, sunscreens, shower gels)

For the majority of us, those items listed come into contact with us every single day. Moisturising your legs in the morning as the sun is out and that means skirts and dresses. Buying your lunchtime snack of a sandwich from Pret and a can of Diet Coke because you’re trying to be good and cut down on sugar. Using your kitchen spray to wipe down the cooker as your husband cooked a delicious meal last night but didn’t clear up, again.

So how can you lovely pregnant ladies take this information on board but live a normal day to day existence without being fearful for your bottle of Coco Butter? Firstly stay calm and take this advice with caution and use your common sense and judgement. There is enough advice thrusted at you when you become pregnant that your brain is going into over drive. Using certified organic products on your body is generally thought to be better for you not to mention including the environment (think of all those pesky pesticides sprayed onto our plants, fruit and vegetables).

But what we do know is that stress is a risk factor to your unborn baby during pregnancy. So take your beautiful bumps outside enjoy the gorgeous sunshine today! If you have bought lunch out of a plastic container because you were in a rush to make anything this morning, take a rug and eat it in the park and try to keep calm.

Birth Story of The Week- Gosia and Janek

Posted on June 3, 2013 by midwifeyhooper

So here it is, the first birth story on the blog. Every Monday I will be publishing your stories so keep them coming, I think this will become a lovely weekly feature. And what better way to cheer up those Monday blues. So where ever you are reading this enjoy.

This week’s story comes from Gosia, a letter to her son Janek who was born a month ago. Get the tissues ready, it’s a beautiful story.

Blog: My name is Gosia

Twitter: thegonow

Dear Janek,

You will be one month old tomorrow. One month. When did that happen? You’re asleep on my chest now. When I breathe, the air from my mouth moves your hair. Very fine, very blonde and very smooth hair. We were supposed to go for the opening of your uncle’s exhibition but you decided you want to eat and eat and cry and eat some more. You’ve waited until I took off my shoes and my skirt and my tights and then you stopped crying. I guess you just wanted to stay in.

I made myself a cup of tea and I lay down next to you and we took a couple of pictures and you were posing and copying my expressions and you were the sweetest. Then you pooped and farted. I changed your nappy, your clothes and I washed your face (you complained).
And here you are. Sleeping and smelling of this instant happiness. One month old tomorrow.

I’ve wanted to write your birth story since it happened. It got deleted three times now and three times I cried because I’ve put all the details there, for you maybe and for me to remember. I felt like the greatest person in the world, and maybe I was for a moment- when Zoe put you on my chest and your daddy cried out of the biggest and purest happiness. This is what I remember today, a month later:

how when it started I made myself think it’s not the real thing yet and continued to make Tiramisu;
when I called your father to come home quickly because I just didn’t wanted to be alone;
how I was taking a bath when he arrived; how we laughed; how I burned all the candles, how he kept on boiling more water in a kettle to pour in the tub;
how all of the sudden I needed to get out and was bouncing on the ball and your father was cleaning the tub of the wax; he needed his hands full, he needed a task;
how we went to the hospital for the first time and they checked your heartbeat and my contractions and how they send us back home; the corridors were empty and I vomited; I remember the taxi back home;
how I spent big part of the night in legs of the bed, on the floor, leaning and going through it all;
when I took another bath and was falling asleep there for thirty seconds at a time and I burned the rest of the candles; how multi-coloured wax was covering the whole bathroom;
how the only thing I ate back then was two dried apricots and how I kept on drinking water from big plastic jug with a red straw;
how on a way back to hospital they told me to scream and I didn’t want to scream because I knew I need strength not noise;
how they checked us again and told us to go for a walk and come back;
how we came back and it rained, we had to stop every couple of steps;
how they checked us again and told us we can stay; how happy we were, how relieved, how weak was I but kept on smiling, how they told me I’m dehydrated and I need to eat and drink, how they moved us to room 7
how I ate and drank and out of sudden I felt great, I had power and we met our midwife, her name was Zoe and how she was the most amazing person we could wish for, how great we understood each other straight away and how we laughed at the same jokes at the same time;
how I took a shower and shaved my legs and put conditioner on. I was in active labour, after 38 hours of contractions;
how I kept on sitting, how I wanted to dance and put the make up on, how I really felt the greatest power;
how all of a sudden I got fever and had to be transferred to the delivery floor, how I was upset about it but knew I just have to get in with it, with whatever my birth brings to me, just accept it and move on;
how Zoe told me nothing will change, how I trusted her, how she said that her women have things the way they want to have them, how I trusted her, how we smuggled a tub of fruit Mentos inside;
how we got upstairs – and I was on the wheelchair and refused to think bad about it- and nothing changed like Zoe promised- there was number 7 on the door;
how your father was there and he was getting more tired but was still giving me water and illegally he was feeding me with fruit Mentos, how he found my lip balm, how he tried a bit of gas and air, how brave was he even if on the second plan, as a supporting act;
how they kept giving me things and how I kept on declining others;
how I still tried to joke, how many times Zoe told me she loved me and how I trusted her about it;
how when things got very strong your father held my hand and I looked on Zoe, on her ear, on her purple guitar earring, how it kept me going;
how suddenly they both got excited cause you were coming any time and I was thinking that great at least someone has fun;
how your heartbeat was so strong and happy and healthy all the time and how thankful I am because god knows what they would do to us if it wasn’t;
how I was pushing for hour and a half and I asked your daddy to take a photo and I felt your head going out of my body and how surreal it all felt;
how I had no power and I kept saying “I can’t do this” and they’ve been saying “you’re doing this” and how I thought “what can I do if I tell myself I can?”
how I pushed without contractions because I was tired and scared and I wanted you to be here already;
how you arrived; how surreal; how slippery; how heavy; how beautiful; how; how smelling of a lake; how you knew me; how you didn’t cry; how your father cried; how did that happen;
how the rest was a blur: someone sewing my ladies bits, me laughing, you pooping on your daddy’s hand, Zoe bringing us toast with butter and jam and tea and leaving( can you imagine being such an important part of somebody’s life and then just walking away quietly?);
how they wheeled me downstairs to the ward and how proud I was with you in my hands;
how I spent first evening with you crying because “you will never be one day old again”;
how the first night with you was the happiest night of my life when I slept, holding you close, against the regulations but according to my heart.

Just like now. So you’re one month old. We survived. You are healthy and happy. I didn’t hurt you. I didn’t break your arm or your leg. You cried maybe 6 hours in total. I learned so much about you and I still do every day. I learned so much about myself and I need to grow myself for you every day. I need to take care of your father. We are family now. He works so hard for us. There’s so much words, so many feelings, it’s so hard and so beautiful and crazy. You’re one month old and you are greater than the universe.

Wow. It never ceases to amaze me how the tiny things us midwives do are so improtant to women. I have a clear image of Gosia’s midwife Zoe with her guitar ear ring now. What an inspirational story. Thank you Gosia for sharing. If you too would like to feature on the blog please email me gasandairblog@gmail.com

Another weekly round up

Posted on June 2, 2013 by midwifeyhooper

Phew what a week to come back to after our little trip to New York. It’s always like that when you’ve been away isn’t it, you are constantly catching up with yourself whilst trying to battle with the inevitable dreaded jet lag. More late night blogging and internet browsing for me then!

Monday: I did a birth talk with one of my women who is due in 4 weeks. I LOVE a birth talk! We go through all their worries and fears, talk about where they plan to have their baby and how and when to page us when they think they are in labour. This is very important as we don’t want to unnecessarily be paged at 3am saying that the waters have broken but no much has happened! Not so good for us as we’re then lying there awake and unable to sleep. Most of our women decide in labour where they would like to birth their baby which is great because there are no huge expectations which sometimes may not go to ‘plan’.

kids come too!

Tuesday: I had a day off and attended a fabulous pampering and play session at Shoreditch House organised by the wonder that is Jenny from Mothers Meeting! My two year old played with her little pals whilst I caught up with some of my favourite Mamas whilst having my eyebrows threaded (think caterpillars on steroids!) and having a lovely back massage provided by Bliss Spa. The morning was so lovely and we all headed upstairs to the 6th floor for a well deserved glass of wine and lunch. Don’t all Mama’s deserve a treat once in a while? Mothers Meeting is a great place to meet other Mums from all different backgrounds, they organise amazing workshops and day trips so if you’re needing some inspiration head over to their website and find out what’s going on in your area.

Love this boy

Wednesday: I went and discharge little Ivo at day 21 who was slow to regain his birth weight. But after much persistence from his clever Mummy and fantastic support from the rest of the team he is well above his birth weight and thriving! I can honestly say he grew little chubby cheeks whilst I was away and is now entirely breastfed. Such a fab result! I do love my job.

Thursday: Was our monthly ‘Meet the Midwife’ group we run at the end of every month for a chance for any women due around that time to meet the rest of the team. We also invite some women and their babies to share their birth stories to the group. I love these sessions as it’s so lovely to put a name to a face of the other pregnant women we might support during their birth (read about how we work here). Two Mama’s shared their wonderful birth stories, both home births and both had very different birth plans but both had fantastic results!

Writers block

Friday: I had to meet a final deadline for my first commissioned piece of work! Really nerve racking but if it all goes through it could lead to exciting things! It’s all a bit hush hush at the moment so I can’t say much more at this point. This blog will also be going through some changes in the next month or two. I have found an amazing designer who is going to turn my dream of making GasandAir into a proper website, where people can come and find out all things birth, babies and beyond. She is totally on my wave length and I can’t wait to see what ideas she comes up with. Watch this space!

Birth Stories

Posted on May 31, 2013 by midwifeyhooper

I’ve been on a little high this week after attending my wonderful friend and colleague’s birth. It was such an honour to be there and see her being so strong and courageous, I feel all warm and tingly when I think of it. As a midwife I watch women becoming mothers in front of my very eyes as their babies are born and often wonder how will they find this incredible journey they are about to embark on.

It’s got me thinking. I love a birth story, probably because I’m a midwife and a little birth obsessed, but I have feeling there’s a lot of you out there who also love a birth story too. Am I right?

I’ve decided to start a weekly blog post called ‘Birth Story of The Week‘ starting on Monday. ALL types of births are welcome and I really do mean that. It’s more about how you felt during the whole event. It doesn’t matter if it was last month, last year or 5 years ago. I can remember my first daughter’s birth almost 6 years ago still very clearly. I will post a different story every week. Oh and any special photo you would like to accompany it with would be great!

So if you feel you want to share your experience please email me at gasandairblog@gmail.com. Thanks

Here are two photos from both my births to get you inspired. You can read my birth stories here

The Big Apple, The Big Question

Posted on May 29, 2013 by midwifeyhooper

I’ve been to New York. This is a big deal, not only have I drunk frozen Margaritas in the BEST Mexican in Greenwich Village, eaten amazing banana pancakes in a dive diner, I’ve actually seen a Brooklyn brownstone building and I swear I saw Sarah Jessica Parker and her twins walking though Soho. Ok it just looked a bit like her, from a distance, if you closed you eyes and squinted. Ok in truth this never happened but I did see the coffee shop ‘Grumpys’ where Hannah from Girls worked part time until she went a bit OCD and had to call Adam because she counted everything in eights. That did happen and New York was pretty amazing. It really is the city that never sleeps.

Anyway none of this really matters, because my trip gave me a tiny insight into what it would be to live there, with my husband and 2 kids. The truth is, it would be incredible. New York is a city I cannot describe to some one who hasn’t been there, it’s just everything I hoped it was but it lacked something I feel so passionately about. It would be impossible for me to work there as a British midwife. There are lots of American trained nurse/midwife practitioners but with long and complicated additional exams and training to do, it’s a no win situation. To be honest I’m slightly relived as I love my job at the moment, and giving it all up would be heartbreaking. Plus I’m not sure New York is the city for our girls.

But New York is a city I will be returning to, there was so many places we didn’t see and with my husband clocking up on his air miles I think another child free break is necessary. So for now we’re staying put, in London where are children are settled, my job is secure and women can have one to one midwifery care through the NHS.

Gas And Air